Another year gone by...

And another year is over - a year full of changes with e.g. a new job and focus on my personal life so that the blog got slightly neglected. 

I nevertheless managed to see around 110 shows this year, okay some more than once and one in particular. 

Among these shows is again an increasing number in non musicals due to the lack of interesting stuff in this country - also a reason why I accumulated six London/Uk trips including 2 for longer than the usual three days - not that London is that overly exciting (though most of my musical highlights are of shows I saw in London). 

Fortunately the number of lowlights is surprisingly low this year - two are though at my once utterly beloved Theater für Niedersachsen  (TfN). 

The absolute disaster of the year was "La Cage Aux Folles"  at that - not only the appalling production so badly cast and directed but also the things happened around. Some performer seriously seem to have some issues with not being able to accept negative criticsm - despite then saying in the next moment I would not have any clue.

Sorry, I am pretty sure I have seen more shows than most of you and while I did not have the professional training at e.g. a musical school I had some training and experience.

And in regards to that particular one I had seen several other productions before and know of the true potential of it. Well as long as certain people are at that theatre I will not put one foot into it. I seriously hope though, and there are signs, the musical company at the TfN will be history in the near future.

The second one is Hair where I was seriously wondering whether they were taking the p*** - so amateurishly directed, to direct Hair requires HARD work due to the little substance in the script and it is the director's job to fill that with life but for some reasons here there was not much more than nothing, the cast largely seemed not to bother when I saw the show and do not get me started on the band. 

Not a show but a performance making it on that list is Marti Pellow who played Che in the Evita UK tour - never ever have I seen such a dire Che and having seen about a dozen Evita productions I have seen a lot. 

He couldn't act the part, couldn't sing the part and being surrounded by talented trained people he stood out of for all the wrong reasons. 

On the other hand the highlights were (in no particular order) 

Gypsy in Berlin in March - performed in a proper brothel and reduced massively cast wise it was quite an experience, so hard to put into words, and one I would not want to have missed seeing an incredible cast in this mind blowing production. 

Dogfight in London in August for which I flew over just to see that particular show. Had known it for a while and hearing some songs live at that Paul & Pasek concert last year I so wanted to go even if it meant paying a ridiculous amount for a last minute flight - but seeing it was worth every cent.  Wonderfully cast, played so grippingly, with so much energy and passion that even the flaws in the show didn't bother me as much as they would do in other shows. 

This month added two further highlights I saw in London - 

Assassins and City of Angels - two so different shows of course but both so excellently cast and direction and staging concepts that proves that small theatres can put bug things on stage!

In summer I finally could witness Drew Sarich as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar - he has played the part before but I never had time before seeing him in that show so to finally having the chance was like dreams coming true. And the overall production was a treat as well well cast and performed by ensemble and orchestra. 

While certainly a little silly show "Landeier - Bauern Suchen Frauen" was by far the funniest thing I watched this year. Nearly every line, every moment brought a smile, a laughter on my face.

'Das Märchen von einem, der auszog das Fürchten zu lernen' was my favourite family show.
I have seen quite a few more than usual this year, I find a lot of enjoyment in them, and this particular one, written by the amazing Jan Radermacher, was the absolute highlight being so sincere, true and faithful but with its own personality, wonderful cast and some  great directing.

Special mentioning goes to the Vienna production of 'Mary Poppins'. I ABSOLUTELY loved it during its London seeing it a LOT, it was my most seen show till last year, unfortunately I hadn't managed to see it since it closed in London in 2008 so it was such a treat to see it again with so many beautiful memories coming back.

Overall a pretty good year but I just wished there was more exciting musical stuff to see in Germany...